USD/INR closed at 69.47 against its opening of 69.19. USD/INR ends and traded high on Friday helped by bids form oil importers after crude prices continued to rise and on likely foreign portfolio outflows from local debt market. Oil prices jumped more than 2% on Friday, climbing further from five-month lows hit this week amid signs that OPEC and other producers may extend their output reduction deal.
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih on Friday said that OPEC countries had no doubt about the need to extend a global oil output deal but the question at hand was the stance of OPEC’s allies.OPEC and its allies are due to gather in the coming weeks for a policy meeting.
The USD index, the gauge that measures the strength of the US currency against a basket of major units on a trade-weighted basis, was at 97.08 compared to 97.29 at the time of rupee spot closing on Thursday.The dollar has been hit by the rising expectations for a U.S. rate cut before year-end, as an escalating China-U.S. trade row hurts business confidence and growth. dollar remains pressured ahead of the US non-farm payroll numbers due later in the day.
Bond prices that had rallied to new highs over the last few weeks in the run up to the RBI policy review and following the dovish surprises at the event on Thursday started retreating on Friday. Equities were also down in the last day of the week.
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